As a young mother, I often struggled to pray for my sons in ways that differed from the default, go-to kinds of prayers: “Lord, please guide, guard, and protect my sons. Bless them and help them to be a blessing to you and to others.” There was and is nothing inherently wrong with such praying; […]
Social and religious experimentation flourished in the United States after ratification of the Constitution’s First Amendment. New sects and cults multiplied after 1830 and continue to do so. This article explains the origin and beliefs of three major cults: Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Scientology. Mormonism The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints originated […]
Turkey. A basket overflowing with warm pan de sal. Mashed potatoes. Pumpkin pie. Ube ice cream. All served on Grandma’s familiar green “crazy daisy” patterned dishes. Sleeping through sports games. Checking the forecast for signs of snow. Tossing fragrant clementine peels into the fireplace. All while layered in our comfiest plaid pajamas. My fond memories […]
What do people around the world believe? Keeping a few basic principles in mind will help us better understand the major world religions that appear in this brief overview. First, let’s temporarily suspend judgment as we seek to understand what others believe. If we judge too quickly, we may be judging a perversion of that […]
Grief is all around us. As I write this our nation is grieving the death of a revered United States senator. Our Christian community is grieving the tragic death of a teenager in a car accident. In our neighborhood there is someone in grief. It is a part of life. Grief is an emotional response […]
